For what it's worth
It was early evening and we were running late. Somehow we knew we would make it in time. Nothing starts on time in India, including funerals. A decent crowd had turned up to pay their last respects. It was my friend’s father who had passed away. He was admitted to the hospital for diabetes. He succumbed to kidney failure. Renal failure as the doctor’s note put it.
It was strange how quickly a man with a name, with honour, with a life suddenly becomes a mere body. All conversations too refer to him as ‘The Body’. All that remains is a pile of muscle, flesh and fast clotting blood. Stripped of all decency, the body is wrapped tightly in a shroud, like an object being parcelled, labelled and mailed away.
I couldn’t help but think about the momentary nature of our lives. Right from birth to death to everything in between. So many questions kept darting back and forth in my head. All our plans, wishes, dreams, vices, egos, self-esteem, pride, glory, wealth, power, connections, mistakes, achievements, eccentricities, deepest darkest fears, all amounts to nothing.
It’s the end. Totally.
Yet we spend so much of our time in them, investing so much time, emotions, money. It all seems perfectly logical when we are alive and kicking.
So many enjoy life while they are here while many others advocate preparing for the next life in this life itself. Some even castigate their past lives. My moment of disillusionment was just with how insignificant we are in the scheme of things. Even the greatest men couldn’t bring life to a grinding halt.
Sometimes we really do lose sight of what’s really important.
Things that outlast life itself.
How long will that car last?
How good an investment is your flat?
How long will that meal at that fancy place be remembered?
Is winning always really that important?
How long will you hold that grudge?
How long will that hurt fester the sadism within?
How long will you abuse your body?
How long will it hold up?
Points to ponder, food for thought or maybe just plain bullshit.
It was strange how quickly a man with a name, with honour, with a life suddenly becomes a mere body. All conversations too refer to him as ‘The Body’. All that remains is a pile of muscle, flesh and fast clotting blood. Stripped of all decency, the body is wrapped tightly in a shroud, like an object being parcelled, labelled and mailed away.
I couldn’t help but think about the momentary nature of our lives. Right from birth to death to everything in between. So many questions kept darting back and forth in my head. All our plans, wishes, dreams, vices, egos, self-esteem, pride, glory, wealth, power, connections, mistakes, achievements, eccentricities, deepest darkest fears, all amounts to nothing.
It’s the end. Totally.
Yet we spend so much of our time in them, investing so much time, emotions, money. It all seems perfectly logical when we are alive and kicking.
So many enjoy life while they are here while many others advocate preparing for the next life in this life itself. Some even castigate their past lives. My moment of disillusionment was just with how insignificant we are in the scheme of things. Even the greatest men couldn’t bring life to a grinding halt.
Sometimes we really do lose sight of what’s really important.
Things that outlast life itself.
How long will that car last?
How good an investment is your flat?
How long will that meal at that fancy place be remembered?
Is winning always really that important?
How long will you hold that grudge?
How long will that hurt fester the sadism within?
How long will you abuse your body?
How long will it hold up?
Points to ponder, food for thought or maybe just plain bullshit.
posted by obedrossi at
11:25 AM
6 Comments
